Page 14 of Claimed By Two Alphas

Wait. I knew him. Just like I knew most of the people in there. I’d grown up in Hungry, so most of the residents were familiar faces.

John Brooks. He owned some property out in the bayou. He ran an airboat tourist thing. John was a particularly large man. He was robust with a long beard, the kind of guy you might think of when someone mentioned a mountain man. One those types who lived in seclusion on their mountain, shooting anyone who dared come onto their property.

Or a pig farmer, because he had on a pair of blue jean overalls that were frayed at one knee.

Why on earth would he even think about robbing the place? Not that I paid attention to his business to know if it was doing good or times were hard. Still, I felt as if I had to help him in some way.

“Hey, John.” I smiled at him as I approached. “How are things out your way?”

John seemed startled at my presence. He blinked several times as if he was rebooting his brain. “Um, hey, Shane. Things are good. How’ve you been?”

I can’t do this. This isn’t me. I’ll find another way to raise the money. God, why would I even think about doing something so heinous?

“I’ve been good. My pa told me to tell you hi if I saw you here.” Total lie, but I wanted his focus on me and not the register, even though he was reconsidering his plan. “You all settled up, or do you want me to ring you out?”

“Nah, um, I’m good.” He cast his eyes toward the floor, and I heard his thoughts of how truly ashamed he was. “I better get going. It was nice seeing you, Shane.”

I stood there and watched him leave. Once he was out the front door, I went over to the brothers and told them what had just happened.

“John Brooks?” Delvin glanced toward the exit.

“Don’t think too badly of him.” I explained what I’d learned. “They were just thoughts, guys. It seems he’s fallen onto hard times and needs the money.”

Joshua scratched at his jaw. “I don’t see how. It’s summer, so the tourists should be pouring in.”

“We never know what’s going on in someone’s life.” I shrugged. For example, how Janie hated me for taking so many breaks, not knowing the real reason why. Even if they really had been bad headaches, it was pretty shallow of her to hate a person because they suffered from something they couldn’t control.

Nope. I wasn’t going to let myself fall into that pit. I wasn’t going to hate her right back. Just like I’d told them, you never knew what was going on in someone’s life.

“Maybe we can do some kind of fundraising for John,” Joshua suggested. “Help him out a little, you know.”

“That’s a great idea!” I wanted to hug him but kept my arms at my sides. “We’ll brainstorm later tonight.”

“Have you taken a break yet?” Delvin asked.

“Been working three hours without one,” I said proudly. “Let me clear out my last table and I’ll take one.”

Twenty minutes later, I was heading toward the door, ready to sit on the bench and enjoy fifteen minutes of peace and quiet. Joshua would be right behind me as soon as he was done talking to Delvin. He never let me go outside by myself, but I couldn’t wait around for him. I wanted to get off of my feet and enjoy the night air.

I didn’t make it that far. I was right by the exit, still inside the building, when John came back inside and grabbed me by my upper before marching me right out the door.

Chapter Five

Shane

Luck was not on my side. No one was in the parking lot when I was forced outside. I was surprised no one saw John taking me. I was even more surprised that I didn’t think to shout. I was in shock. I hadn’t expected John to do this.

“Where are you dragging me to?” I tried to dig my feet in, but he was large and strong and I couldn’t get him off of me.

His trunk popped open before we reached his car.

“Oh no.” I shook my head, trying my hardest to yank my arm free. “You are not stuffing me in there like luggage.”

What really baffled me was how quiet John’s thoughts were. I couldn’t read a single thing. His mind was a complete blank. How? I’d just read his thoughts earlier. How could his mind be a total blank now?

I tried to fight, tried to get free, but John shoved me in with a hard thrust, snatched my phone from my pocket, tossed it onto the ground, and then stuffed my legs in behind me and slammed the trunk closed. Seconds later, we were moving, rather fast if the jostling was anything to go by. I had to hold my hands above me to stop my head from whacking the trunk lid. There were also a lot of things in here, things I couldn’t see but poked me in my side and legs.

It dawned on me that a lot of trunks these days had those safety features that let you pull on a cord to push down the back seats. I patted around, wishing I had some light, but John had taken my phone. My hands didn’t land on any cords, so I turned to the taillights. If I could knock one out, maybe I could signal someone that a person was in John’s trunk.

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